Childhood Sweethearts: Jill & Dan's Laid-Back Clare Wedding

When a couple live overseas, their wedding is a double celebration - it's a marriage of course, but it's a reunion too! So it was fitting that U.S. based, Jill & Dan came home to Ireland for their big day, they headed straight to place where they met, fell in love, and spent their summers as children - Co. Clare. This real wedding at Trump International Doonbeg is laid-back yet elegant, and as you'll see from the photography by Awake and Dreaming, Jill & Dan had a pretty fun day making memories with their family and friends.

Jill & Dan’s relationship began as a teenage summer romance, as the groom tells us, “We first met in the summer of 2005 in Kilkee Co Clare. The following summer we started going out and have been together ever since. 11 years this year. I suppose you could say we are childhood sweethearts. We met through mutual friends and after a bit of a chase Jill finally gave into my charm!”

Jill was taken off-guard by Dan’s proposal, “It was wonderful, we got engaged on a cold November day under the Tappan Zee Bridge in Tarrytown, New York. Dan was nervous to say the least. I was shocked. It took a while for me to be able to talk but it was certainly a memorable moment.”

How sharp is Dan's check suit! The rest of the lads scrub up pretty well too!

The couple both got ready in their family holiday homes, as Jill tells us, “That made it really comfortable and personal. Dan loved going for a swim with all of his friends on the morning of the wedding, just like they used to do when we were young.”

Jill looks so beautiful - the beaded bodice on her gown is stunning and so unusual!

The couple say they are both really laid back, and wanted their wedding day to reflect their personalities, “There wasn't too much fuss it was just very chill from the get go. We were surrounded by so much love and happiness from our wonderful family and friends that it genuinely made the day so enjoyable, special and unforgettable. Everything seemed to go off without a hitch, we were really lucky.”

As the couple were flying home from the US for their wedding, they wanted to prioritise giving their guests the best day ever, “It was just so exciting to come home and be with our family and friends. There was such a sense of excitement because so many of our friends live away. Friends and family travelled from far and wide to be there and I think that's was made the day so special. And because people went to so much effort to join us, it was like one big reunion and we really just wanted everyone to have a wonderful day with us.”

The couple wanted a wedding venue close to where they first met, “We first got together in Kilkee Co. Clare and we have had some amazing times there together and with our families and friends. Clare is so special to us and it and has been a huge part of both of our lives since we were little. After we got engaged there was no question of getting married anywhere else, it also helped that Doonbeg International is absolutely spectacular so it made it the perfect choice for our big day.”

Jill & Dan’s families were really helpful in the lead up to their big day, “They couldn't have done enough for us throughout the whole planning process, our parents, siblings and wedding party knocked it out if the park on the day. That is what made it so relaxing, enjoyable and special, we owe it to them.”

After meeting as teens in Kilkee, it was pretty great that the couple got to have their wedding day photo session on the beach in Clare.

Jill has high praise for the team at their wedding venue, “I cannot say enough positive things about the Sylvia Walnutt, the wedding coordinator and all the staff in Doonbeg International, their quality of service is next to none, we didn't have to think or worry about a thing on the day, they truly run a fantastic show.”

Jill describes the look of the day as minimal, “We knew we wanted to keep things simple and classic so we opted for neutral tones of ivory, cream, champagne and green, it was so easy to choose everything and I never worried about matching anything.”

These high candelabras had a hint of grandeur to the bright marquee-style space.

This busy bride and groom have advice for other couples planning their weddings, “We were planning from abroad and have pretty hectic work schedules so we put aside some time at the weekends to get stuff done. It didn't consume our lives, we liked just giving it some time every now and again but we definitely relaxed and enjoyed our engagement.”

Jill & Dan have more ideas for getting organised with your planning, “Make a list, go over it from time to time. Tick things off one by one, give yourself plenty of time to plan so it isn't too stressful Make decisions together and share the responsibility. Enjoy every minute, it is the most special time of your lives!”

These two had a pretty epic honeymoon, “We went to Hawaii a couple of days after the wedding, Oahu, Maui and the Big island. Paradise.”

It looks like they had the best day! Thanks so much to Jill & Dan for sharing their wedding with us, and to Awake and Dreaming for sending these fabulous photos our way.